Just over a month ago, Jofre Carreras Pagès (Girona, 2001) lost his mother. The Peruvian fans and the entire squad embraced the footballer in an emotional tribute before the match against Tenerife at the Stage Front Stadium. A year earlier, this promising winger had also fired his father. The blows forced him to mature quickly while he was taking his first steps in professional football and establishing himself in Espanyol's first team. Already in the debut in the top category, in the last match of 2021 in Valencia, he showed that he was made of a different material. An assist from him and a penalty awarded gave Espanyol the win. Two years later, Jofre is one of the important men in Manolo González's team. A boy who faces problems and who continues to dream of being a protagonist in his Espanyol in Primera.
There are six days to go. Do you feel the pressure?
People are mentalized and if you are a professional you have to know how to carry the pressure and take on the challenge. It is very important to achieve the goal.
How has Manolo González improved the team?
As for the game, maybe it's more fluid. Manolo offers you many solutions in the game and this helps us a lot.
Now they concede fewer goals, but it is more difficult for them to score.
We are the ones who have to be more accurate in the final meters. In every match we generate many chances and we just need to put them in.
How is your mood?
It is impossible not to be affected by what has happened to me. It would affect the whole world. Also, what happened with my father happened a year ago. But inside the dressing room I escape. My teammates help me and football is what makes me happy. I am improving day by day.
Is playing soccer therapy?
Yes. It's like an escape route. When I'm on the field I only think about the game, about helping the team. In addition to a motivation, it serves me to escape. And I have fun.
How did you experience the Stage Front tribute?
I'm lucky to have people who love me. I was very excited. I saw that I was not alone. It was very recent and I experienced it much more. I am very grateful because I realized how much people love me.
He exposed his feelings at a very difficult time for you.
I'm clear about what I want. My mother wanted the promotion as much or more than I did. She was excited. So, at that moment I couldn't collapse. I did it for me, selfishly, but also for her and my colleagues. I felt good physically and I thought I could help the team.
The club has improved the area of psychological help. How is it necessary in football?
Even before I was here (stage at Mirandés), when the thing about my father happened, I spoke to the psychologist at the club and held talks with him every week. I'm not hiding, it's a tool that's meant to be used and it's worked well for me. Now the psychologist is helping me. The club puts it in to help, it works for me and I don't have to hide because of it.
Little by little, psychological help is no longer a taboo.
To overcome certain problems you have to talk about them naturally. I had a very special relationship with my mother. And I want to talk about her so that, in some way, I don't forget her. I think she would be proud of me for doing it that way.
They say in the Espanyol academy that he is one of the players with the best evolution.
I arrived at Espanyol in junior A. I am an only child and I have always been very close to my parents. That's why the first years were difficult. I had a bad time.
And then came a ligament injury that kept him out of action for a year. Do you consider yourself a mentally strong person?
Yes, although things affect me like anyone else. You have to know how to wear it in the best way. But with everything that has happened to me, the blows I have had have strengthened me and I have matured little by little.
How do you remember the debut in Primera in Valencia in 2021?
That day was special. One of the best of my life! I was coming back from an eleven-month knee injury and I didn't expect it. I remember coming home and my parents were almost happier than I was.
He had to leave on loan to find minutes.
The year in Miranda went well for me, but the thing with my father happened at the beginning of the season. Personally it served to mature. All this has helped me to be the player I am today and to see things in a different way. I don't regret it.
He now shares a dressing room with a large number of youth players.
Some I've played with all my life. With Joan (García), with Nico (Melamed), with Pol (Lozano), with Omar (El Hilali), with Rubén (Sánchez). They are your colleagues, but they are your friends. It is a comfort zone. Doing the trail with your friends is always easier.
It's a brave bet.
They don't hide, in that. It is a youth team. They are not afraid to bring people up and they know they can get performance.
Three goals and three assists and some MVP. Doesn't the responsibility of being a leader weigh on you?
I appeared against Albacete, but a season is very long. I like to take responsibility, I'm comfortable with it. It's a pleasure for me.
Who do you dedicate the goals to?
To my parents. To both
What do you dream of?
I would like to play regularly in Primera with Espanyol. This is the dream and I think we will achieve it.
